Oops! My Inner Thoughts Are Ruining The Plot

Chapter 23: Chapter

Su Yueqing’s eyes widened ever so slightly.

First, she looked at the robe that Xi Wenzhe had already begun to loosen.

Then her gaze slowly traveled upward until it landed on his face once again.

For a long moment, she simply stared at him.

Xi Wenzhe had already placed the sword hanging at his waist against the wall beside the entrance, his movements calm and unhurried, as though everything he was doing was perfectly reasonable.

There was not the slightest trace of embarrassment on his face.

Nor was there any sign that he intended to leave.

Instead, he simply looked at her and said in an even voice,

"I am here to bathe with my wife."

The words hung heavily inside the quiet bathing chamber.

The warm mist rising from the water seemed to freeze.

Even the gentle sound of water dripping from the stone edges suddenly felt unnaturally loud.

Su Yueqing blinked once.

Then twice.

Inside her mind, however, chaos had already erupted.

[...Has the fire burned his brain?]

[No.]

[Maybe a beam actually hit his head when he went back to save Li Mei.]

[That would explain a lot.]

Her gaze slowly swept over him from head to toe.

[He looks normal.]

[But people with brain injuries usually do.]

[Should I call for a physician?]

Xi Wenzhe’s fingers paused ever so slightly.

His expression did not change, but the corner of his eye twitched almost imperceptibly.

This woman...

Even her thoughts could make people angry.

He looked at her calmly.

"This is my residence."

Su Yueqing blinked.

"So?"

His expression remained completely unchanged.

"And you are my wife."

Silence.

She continued looking at him.

Then, inside her mind,

[What amazing logic.]

[By that reasoning, if a chicken accidentally wanders into a tiger’s cave...]

[Does the tiger suddenly become its husband?]

Xi Wenzhe: "..."

For the first time in many years, the famous Young Master Xi found himself completely unable to understand another person’s way of thinking.

Su Yueqing rested both arms against the edge of the bath and looked at him very seriously.

"Youth Master Xi."

"Hm."

"You entered without knocking."

"I did."

"You walked straight into the bathing chamber."

"I did."

"And now you’re telling me you intend to stay."

"I am."

She nodded thoughtfully.

"I see."

Xi Wenzhe quietly waited.

For some reason, he felt that whatever came next would not be pleasant.

He was right.

Su Yueqing slowly raised one hand and pointed toward the door.

"The exit is over there."

Her voice was perfectly calm.

"You can still make it before I start throwing things."

Inside her mind,

[Definitely brain damage.]

[Severe brain damage.]

Xi Wenzhe closed his eyes briefly.

Old Madam Xi’s words quietly surfaced inside his mind.

Take proper care of your wife.

Do not let emotions cloud your judgment.

When he opened his eyes again, his gaze unconsciously settled on Su Yueqing.

Her long hair had already loosened and was draped over one shoulder.

There was still a faint trace of black soot near her neck from the fire earlier.

The sleeve of the robe she had taken off was still lying nearby, and even from where he stood, he could see the burnt edges that had nearly caught the flames.

She had almost died tonight.

Yet somehow...

She looked far more upset about losing sleep than she did about nearly losing her life.

His brows slowly drew together.

"Were you hurt?"

The sudden question caught Su Yueqing completely off guard.

She stared at him blankly.

Inside her mind—

[...What?]

[Did he just ask if I was injured?]

[Is the world ending?]

She looked at him suspiciously.

[Should I touch his forehead?]

[Maybe the fever from the fire hasn’t gone away.]

Xi Wenzhe almost took a deep breath.

Somehow, every single thought that came out of her mind was completely different from what her face showed.

After a brief silence, Su Yueqing answered quietly.

"A little."

His expression immediately became more serious.

"Where?"

As he spoke, he unconsciously took a step toward the bath.

The moment he moved, Su Yueqing instantly raised her hand.

"Stop."

Xi Wenzhe halted.

She looked at him with an expression so serious that anyone watching would think she was discussing a matter of life and death.

"If you take one more step..."

She paused.

"...I will assume that the fire really damaged your head."

Inside her mind, another thought quietly followed. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

[And I finally got this bath water warm.]

[I’m absolutely not sharing it.]

For a brief second, something strange happened.

The corner of Xi Wenzhe’s lips moved ever so slightly.

It was not quite a smile.

It was so faint that most people would never notice it.

But it was enough to surprise even himself.

Then—

Knock.

Knock.

A respectful voice came from outside the bathing chamber. freewebnoveℓ.com

"Young Master."

The smile that had almost appeared vanished instantly.

Xi Wenzhe’s expression returned to its usual cold calm.

"What is it?"

There was a short silence from outside.

Then Dong Li spoke again, his voice lowered carefully.

"Young Master... it is regarding the matter you instructed this subordinate to investigate."

The atmosphere inside the room changed immediately.

Xi Wenzhe’s eyes darkened before he then turned around to leave.

Su Yueqing, who was still sitting quietly in the warm bath, tilted her head slightly.

"Finally he leaves,. Phew!"

.....

Xi Wenzhe stood quietly outside the bathing chamber.

The wooden door closed softly behind him, separating him from the warm steam inside.

For some reason, the moment he stepped out, Su Yueqing’s last words echoed inside his mind again.

[Finally he leaves. Phew!]

His brows unconsciously knitted together.

Did she really dislike his presence that much?

Before he could think further, a dark figure stepped out from the shadows of the corridor.

Dong Li lowered himself onto one knee.

"Young Master."

Xi Wenzhe’s expression returned to its usual calm indifference.

"What did you find?"

Dong Li slowly raised his head, but there was obvious hesitation in his eyes.

"This subordinate searched Miss Li’s room exactly as you ordered."

Xi Wenzhe remained silent.

Dong Li carefully took out a small cloth bundle.

Inside were several items.

A half-empty oil pouch.

A burnt piece of cloth.

And a small flint stone blackened by fresh soot.

"The cupboard had a hidden compartment behind one of the wooden shelves," Dong Li reported quietly. "These were concealed inside."

Xi Wenzhe’s gaze fell upon the objects.

His eyes slowly darkened.

Dong Li continued.

"This subordinate also found traces of burnt oil on the floor beneath the cupboard, as though someone had hidden these things in a hurry."

The night breeze drifted quietly through the courtyard.

Neither man spoke for several moments.

Xi Wenzhe looked at the blackened flint stone.

Then, almost unconsciously, Su Yueqing’s thoughts surfaced in his mind.

[If you believe your sweetheart so much, then why not check her palm?]

[She burned herself while setting the fire.]

[And I’m pretty sure the things she used are still hidden in her cupboard.]

His fingers slowly tightened around the cloth bundle.

She...

Had been right.

Again.

The image of Su Yueqing standing in the courtyard suddenly appeared before his eyes.

Her slightly burnt sleeve.

Her exhausted face.

The way she had simply stood there while everyone questioned her.

And the way she had looked at him when he accused her.

Not angry.

Not hurt.

Just... tired.

Xi Wenzhe lowered his eyes.

For the first time that night, a strange feeling settled heavily inside his chest.

If Su Yueqing had not spoken...

He would never have investigated Li Mei.

Dong Li carefully observed his master’s expression before speaking again.

"Young Master..."

Xi Wenzhe looked at him.

Dong Li hesitated.

Then he lowered his voice.

"This subordinate feels... perhaps Miss Li had her own reasons."

Xi Wenzhe remained silent.

Dong Li gathered his courage.

"Maybe... perhaps she was jealous."

The words had barely left his mouth when Xi Wenzhe’s gaze turned cold.

"Dong Li."

The subordinate immediately lowered his head.

"This subordinate spoke carelessly."

Xi Wenzhe looked toward the distant courtyard where Li Mei had been taken for treatment.

His voice was low.

"You know her character."

Dong Li stayed silent.

Xi Wenzhe continued,

"She would never do something like that without a reason."

He looked down at the evidence again.

His mind was filled with questions.

Why would Li Mei burn down Su Yueqing’s residence?

Why would she risk her own safety?

Why would she frame someone else?

Nothing made sense.

Dong Li quietly said,

"Young Master... perhaps you should simply ask Miss Li herself. She must have a reason for doing this."

Xi Wenzhe stood there without speaking.

After a long while, he slowly handed the cloth bundle back to Dong Li.

"Burn it."

Dong Li froze.

"...Young Master?"

"I said burn it."

His voice was calm.

"No one is to know about this investigation."

Dong Li looked at the evidence in his hands before lowering his head deeply.

"This subordinate understands."

Without another word, he took the bundle and disappeared into the darkness.

The corridor became quiet once more.

Xi Wenzhe remained standing alone beneath the lantern light.

His gaze slowly drifted back toward the closed bathing chamber.

Behind that door...

Su Yueqing was probably still soaking in the warm water, completely unaware that her ridiculous thoughts had once again uncovered the truth.

Xi Wenzhe stood there for a long moment.

Then, almost unwillingly, one final thought crossed his mind.

Could it be...

...that from the very beginning, he had misunderstood her?